Notes and Essays -- John Brown

Attack shows extent to which the drones have helped Kyiv exercise greater control in the Black Sea By Alexander Osipovich July 14, 2026 6:16 pm ET The Wall Street Journal The original article contains numerous informative links. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the assault on the ship. Blondet Eliot/ Abaca/ ZUMA Press Quick Summary -- Ukraine said one of its naval drones sank a Russian patrol ship called the Emerald docked in the Black Sea resort town of Gelendzhik on Tuesday. -- The Emerald was operated by Russia’s FSB security service and took part in a November 2018 attack on Ukrainian ships, according to Ukraine’s navy. -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the strike, which occurred about 270 miles from the front lines. Ukraine said one of its naval drones on Tuesday sank a Russian patrol ship docked in the Black Sea resort  town of Gelendzhik, close to a luxurious compound allegedly linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin. At least one domestical...

Ukrainians, already drone innovators, are turning their focus to psychological operations aimed at undercutting Russian support for the war. Maria Berlinska, who is revered in Ukraine as a main driver behind the use of drones in the war there, in Kyiv, the capital, in November. Credit... Volodymyr Tarasov/Ukrinform, via Sipa USA, via Reuters By Carlotta Gall and Oleksandr Chubko Carlotta Gall and Oleksandr Chubko have been reporting together from Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. This article was reported from Kyiv, Ukraine. July 13, 2026, 5:02 a.m. ET The New York Times original article contains numerous links Even while they are immersed in fighting the world’s most technologically advanced drone war, some of Ukraine’s top military and civilian leaders gathered recently in Kyiv to focus on what they see as the war’s next crucial phase, the battle for minds. They were brought together in Kyiv, the capital, by Maria Berlinska, revered in Ukraine as a main driver beh...